Judd Apatow Blasts Centre In The Square For Hosting Bill Cosby

CBC

Film director Judd Apatow took to twitter on Boxing Day to blast two Ontario theatres for going ahead with scheduled performances by Bill Cosby next month despite the sexual assault allegations the comedian is facing from more than 15 women.

Cosby is scheduled to perform at Kitchener's Centre in the Square on Jan. 7 and at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ont., on Jan. 8.

Apatow tweeted at Centre in the Square, asking if the venue planned to go ahead with the planned performance. In a subsequent tweet, he asked if Cosby is "only popular in Ontario" now.

Apatow's tweets were met with a flurry of both criticism and praise.

The director did not hold back when it came to his critics, urging Cosby to speak publicly about the allegations.

Cosby boycott

The London's Abused Women's Centre has called for a boycott of the comedian's show and the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region has encouraged fans to evaluate their support.

An alternate event in Kitchener, Voices Carry, is being held on the same night as Cosby's scheduled Centre in the Square show. It is being organized by a group of volunteers to raise money for survivors of sexual assault, with proceeds going to the Sexual Assault Centre of Waterloo Region and Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.

In late November, Centre in the Square wrote a blog post explaining why it would not cancel the show, despite "concerns raised by patrons and the local community."

The theatre wrote that the venue is being rented by a promoter, Innovation Arts and Entertainment, and that cancelling the show would mean the theatre has to compensate for box office losses, show expenses, refund all tickets and pay back "any guarantee fee contracted to Mr. Cosby."

Apatow did not think the financial penalties were a strong enough reason not to cancel the show.